In writing about autonomous cars, we tend to discuss the advances in (or shortcomings of) self-driving technology. We make assessments based on how well (or how poorly) autonomous vehicles have learned to drive like humans.

In writing about autonomous cars, we tend to discuss the advances in (or shortcomings of) self-driving technology. We make assessments based on how well (or how poorly) autonomous vehicles have learned to drive like humans.

Worried about your car being hacked? The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are, too, and they've published some handy tips to keep you and your ride safe.

Worried about your car being hacked? The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are, too, and they've published some handy tips to keep you and your ride safe.

New York City might seem one of the most car-hostile environments on the planet, but it really isn't. Take the city's annual auto show as irrefutable proof of the opposite.More >

New York City might seem one of the most car-hostile environments on the planet, but it really isn't. Take the city's annual auto show as irrefutable proof of the opposite.More >

By Richard Read

If you have plans to sell your current ride anytime soon, we have good news and great news.

The good news is that your used car isn't depreciating very much, and it's not likely to do so for the next couple of years. That prediction comes from the National Automobile Dealers Association, which says that used cars are likely to retain a good portion of their value through at least 2014.

As an example, NADA gives the example of a used car worth $12,000. Over 2012, that vehicle is likely to depreciate by about 15.7%, or $1,884. In 2014, that same $12,000 used vehicle would likely slip $1,992 in value, which isn't much more.

The great news? This means that you should have many more options when it comes to replacing your ride. As we mentioned earlier this month, low depreciation rates mean that the price difference between new cars and used cars can be pretty slim -- especially when dealer incentives are taken into consideration. So, for example, instead of trading in your used car for another used model, you might be able to score a brand-new car for about the same price.

Why are cars retaining their values

As we've discussed several times before, today's used car values are high for a number of reasons. Chief among them:

1. Car sales bottomed out during the Great Recession. Fewer cars were made during that time, and fewer were bought, too. That has put a dent in the availability of used models, and as we all remember from Economics 101, when supply is reduced and demand stays constant, prices edge higher.

2. Although the economy is still shaky, the recession is over, and car sales are on the rise. However, NADA points out that automakers aren't overproducing vehicles like they did before the crash. That limits the inventory of new cars, which boosts new-car values and also trickles over to keep used cars from depreciating too much.

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